Work Text:
In two separate bedrooms, on opposite sides of the city of Berlint, two schoolchildren were admiring their Halloween costumes in the mirror.
One was purchased by a doting mother, the other was purchased by a doting butler.
Eden Academy, for the first time since its inception, had decided to allow students to come to class dressed in a costume, rather than their uniform, on Halloween. Students, especially those that lived in the dorms, were reported feeling higher levels of homesickness and lower morale- so what better way than to celebrate a holiday meant specifically for children?
The next day, in Professor Henderson’s first-grade classroom, there was even more commotion than usual as students compared costumes and accessories. There was even a small group of girls standing by the door, eagerly waiting to see what Damian Desmond would be wearing- and if any of them would compliment him.
The door opened, and the girls looked at the doorway excitedly, only to visibly deflate to find it was only Anya Forger and Becky Blackbell.
Becky rolled her eyes at them as she and Anya walked past them and into their usual seats.
“Who am I again, Anya?” Becky asked in a low voice as they unpacked their notebooks.
“Princess Honey! Bondman saves her in every episode.” She then went into yet another lecture- one that Becky had heard probably four or five times already.
It was fine though, that’s what best friends did. After all, dressing up was for children, and when she had told Anya that she wasn’t planning on wearing a costume, Anya excitedly suggested she be the Princess Honey to her Bondman.
It hasn’t necessarily been hard for her and Martha to find her most princess-like dress and accessories. That morning, Martha had also insisted on getting a picture of the two of them together.
(There was a part of her that was eager to see it though.)
Anya’s rant was cut short by the shrieks and squeals of Damian’s fan club as the door opened once again. The two of them looked over to find him wearing a surprisingly familiar hat, and mask, and coat-
“Sy-on boy copied my costume!” Anya exclaimed.
Glancing between the two, she couldn’t help but agree.
Aside from being the exact same character, the costumes were also identical- not that anyone knew. They had both been purchased from Berlint’s most popular department store. That year, Bondman costumes were especially popular and were hard to keep in stock, which was why when Yor and Jeeves saw it, they bought it without a second thought.
The expression on Damian’s face when he saw Anya, standing up aghast in the same exact costume, was priceless . Becky wished she could have had a picture of that.
“You copied me, Sy-on boy!”
“Did not! You copied me!” Damian yelled back.
The entire class watched the back and forth between the two, with Damian’s fan club and minions backing him.
Emile and Ewen were both dressed as Bondman’s sidekick (“Because Bossman deserves twice as many!” they claimed). Damian and Anya were still arguing, and it seemed neither of them was going to back down.
“You have to change! Bondman isn’t a girl anyways!” he argued.
“Nuh-uh, Papa said girls can be spies too! And Mama bought me this costume so I’m gonna wear it!” she declared.
There was a scowl on his face, and he opened his mouth to say something when Professor Henderson came in dressed as an extremely elegant wizard.
“Good morning, class.”
The students rushed to their seats, including Damian and gang, while Anya sat down in a huff.
“I thought it might be nice for everyone to explain while I take attendance. Miss Forger, will you start?”
Anya nodded enthusiastically, then stood up. She turned around to face the rest of the class, “I’m Bondman!” she announced. “From Spy Wars!”
There was polite disinterest from the rest of the class, and it went like that as Henderson went through the class list.
Damian stood up when it was his turn, “I’m also Bondman.” He looked over at Anya pointedly. “And I’m more accurate.”
At that, Becky grabbed Anya’s sleeve to keep her in her seat and to avoid a redo of their first day.
The rest of their classes followed in a similar suit, with Damian making snide comments, Anya wanting to punch him, and Becky trying to keep her out of trouble.
Which was why when Professor Henderson announced Damian Desmond and Anya Forger were sharing the title for more accurate costumes, half the class almost fell out of their seat in shock and the other half laughing.
The end of the day had rolled around, and Henderson returned fifteen minutes before the bell rang to announce a surprise contest- in which two students would receive an extra point on their exam.
Aside from the extra point, Henderson also wanted the two to take a picture together for posterity. Meaning Anya and Damian were standing in front of the blackboard, Anya smiling widely and Damian scowling (with the faintest blush on his cheeks), as the dorm tutor took their photo.
Becky couldn’t help but watch as he protested getting a copy of the picture, before “reluctantly” agreeing to take one. The blush on his cheeks got brighter, as Anya grabbed his sleeve to tell him that he wasn’t wearing his hat the right way.
And so, as they were all filing out of the classroom, she didn't hold back. She turned to Damian before they went their separate ways, “Maybe next year, you can be Princess Honey instead of me.”
(maybe she didn’t hate dressing up for Halloween that much)